Kia Sorento Platinum CRDi 2012 Review

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory & delivery charges): $50,180
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Premium paint $450
Crash rating: Five-star (ANCAP)
Fuel: Diesel
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 7.4
CO2 emissions (g/km): 194
Also consider:  Ford Territory; Hyundai Santa Fe; Mazda CX-9; Toyota Prado

The Kia Sorento has been a promising performer for the Korean brand, and rated well in our seven-seat diesel SUV comparison, vying for honours with the Hyundai Santa Fe for top billing.

But with a facelifted Sorento scheduled to arrive locally later in 2012, should prospective buyers wait until the updated version arrives, or aim for a run-out deal on the current XM model?

As it stands the current Kia Sorento is more than three years old, having been introduced here in 2009, but it still manages to fulfil its purpose. It drives well, has a responsive turbodiesel engine, is comfortable, and its seven-seat capability adds people-moving versatility.

Priced at just over $50K, the 2012 Kia Sorento Platinum CRDi (diesel) is the range topper in the current line-up and comes with a swag of premium features including twin sunroof, push-button engine start with proximity key, illuminated scuff plates, leather seats, alloy foot pedals, self-dimming rear-view mirror, 18-inch alloy wheels, premium sound system, six airbags and stability control.

The standard features that made the biggest difference to everyday driving duties, however, were things like reverse parking sensors and camera, eight-way electric adjustable driver's seat, no less than four cup holders and another four bottle holders, third row seats that fold flush into the floor of the luggage bay, and a new-ish touch-screen sat nav system added in March 2012.

The latter was developed by Korean electronics giant LG and improves not only the Sorento’s functionality – since it includes SUNA traffic updates that warns drivers of delays – but also adds a modern touch to the interior.

The screen is a very high resolution unit that’s up there with Lexus as one of the sharpest we've seen, but its excellence is wasted somewhat on the primitive (albeit effective) Navteq mapping software.

On the plus side, pairing an iPhone with the car's wireless Bluetooth receiver required just three simple steps, while browsing the phonebook and making or receiving calls hands free was equally intuitive.

Overall, the interior is spacious and comfortable but some of the interior trim, notably the plastics, are beginning to date. The leather-covered dash also failed to produce the desired upmarket effect; the finish a bit underdone for our tastes.

Step outside the car and the rear styling is also in need of a rework; the huge LED brake light clusters look try-hard rather than trend-setting.

But for these few negatives there are plenty more positives.

Take the 2.2-litre R Series engine for instance, which is a little louder than some of its contemporaries but pulls like a tractor from most engine speeds. An electronic variable geometry turbocharger is a key part of the engine's lusty thrust, ensuring keen throttle response from standstill and at overtaking speeds.

The engine’s 145kW/436Nm transfers smoothly through the six-speed automatic gearbox, moving the Sorento’s almost two-tonne mass with impressive ease and efficiency. Towing capacity is 2000kg, with a 150kg towball load rating.

Kia claims average fuel consumption of 7.4L/100km on the official ADR81/02 combined fuel cycle. Our final fuel figure, obtained over approximately 500km, including 300km of freeway cruising, was 9.3L/100km.

Like a number of current Kia models the Sorento’s chassis benefits from local suspension tuning, with the result that it retains its composure through bends without wallowing or feeling unduly ponderous.

Drivers who prefer a bit of weight in the steering won’t like the overly-light feel, but the extra power assistance does make manoeuvring the Sorento’s 4685mm length easier.

Despite the fact it claims only three per cent of the large SUV market, compared to the market leading Toyota Prado and Ford Territory’s 18 and 14 per cent respectively, Sorento sales so far this year are up 37 per cent on 2011, so watch this space...

The Sorento’s final report card is overwhelmingly positive. It can certainly still hold its head high in the large SUV category, both as a family transport and a comfortable, frugal, high-riding 4WD.

As to the question of whether prospective buyers should wait until the updated version arrives next year, that really depends on how well you can negotiate. The all-new 2013 Kia Sorento is shaping to be a classy vehicle, but the 2012 model's merits are not insignificant and, armed with the knowledge that dealers will be keen to shift old stock ahead of the new model’s arrival; you just might be able to crunch an unbeatable deal.

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site